Look at me! I am on the path to being a normal NoPo Girl again! And, oh, thank god. I do not do well when I do not have a work/life balance. That doesn't work so well for me. I like to play.
One of the better parts of my new job is the ability to bike commute to and from work. It's pretty awesome. This summer, I was graciously given a Globe bike for my birthday (you can see it above in my header). I set it up with a seat for Hazel, fenders, and lights, and away I have gone. Literally. It's the perfect commute bike- I wear my normal work clothes, I don't have to put on silly cycling shoes with clipless pedals and I am allowed to go slow. I love it. Hazel loves going to and from school on the bike and I arrive at work awake and refreshed, not to mention motivated.
Other than that?
I have actually sort of been training this year- for bike racing and for running. Being devoid of a goal race last season really affected me and the quality of my workouts. I felt a difference. These days, I go to the gym at 6:30 (yes, in the AM) for track workouts and brick workouts (bike/run) and I get myself on a trail and a road every week for some running and cycling. I can feel myself getting faster and stronger and it makes me very excited. It has also done wonders for my "athletic ego". The previous me: I just want to hang on. The new me: I will make those other girls suffer!
I like it.
In other news, we took some trips before the chaos of the school year started.
First, Hazel and I went camping at Lake Cushman with Ailey and Ritchie. It was decidedly not warm enough to swim. In August. LAME. We hiked the Skykomish River instead and spent some time on Hood Canal.
Then, all three of us went to Colorado to see the in-laws. We whiled away some time in the national park and Barkernews and I climbed Mt. Ypsilon. I was surprised at how easy it was, but not at all shocked to find myself with a bruised and bloody shin after falling in the boulder field. Ms. Coordination, that's me.
And, finally, we went to my parents' cabin in Sunlands, WA for what has become an annual Labor Day gathering of family. It was, once again, not warm enough to spend time on the river (this summer=FAIL), but we hiked the Ancient Lakes-where it was warm enough to swim- (Dad of course brought his gun) and climbed the Coulee.
That is all. Bike racing ahead. Stay tuned.
